The Relation Between Ergonomics and Environmental Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis and Scoping Review

This study investigates the relationship between ergonomics and environmental sustainability through a combined bibliometric analysis and scoping review. A search across four major databases identified 1081 articles, of which 82 were included in the final analysis. Bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer highlighted a strong conceptual alignment between ergonomics and sustainability, particularly around work systems, production processes, safety, and usability. However, the scoping review revealed that this alignment is predominantly theoretical. Most studies rely on macro-ergonomic or socio-technical frameworks without translating them into integrated, practice-oriented sustainability interventions. Empirical applications are fragmented, typically focused on single products or processes, with limited attention to system-level or behavioral change. This gap is especially evident in developing countries, underscoring the need for context-sensitive ergonomic models capable of supporting effective environmental sustainability outcomes.